Shock absorber



March 17. 1925.

E. A. MILHAUPT SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 1, 1922 IN VEN TOR. $9M ffla/fi aZM/ 4&4!

ATTORNEYS. v

PmnteH'Mar; 17, 1925.

omrsn stares? EDGAR A.- Mimmrr, or APPLETGN, Wisconsin;

SHOCK: ABSORBER.

Application filed l ecenib'er 1 '0 all whoa/z '1' z may: concern Be it h-nown' that L-ED'GAR A. MiLi-IAUPT, a citizen oi the United States; residing at Appleton; county of: Outagami'e; and? State of=Vv ise0nsiir, have invented new andniseiul I11ipi'( .'e1n'ents in Shook Absorbers, of which the following." is a specification;

This'iirvention' relates to. improvements iii--v shock absorbers;

It is an obj ect otthis intention to provide".- ashock'absorb'err having! a set oi? helical shock absorbing SPI'iDgSaGdClI ott': which are operativelyengaged successively by a piston associated with the body supportingspring; of alvehiole.

More specifically stated, it isair objeot of" this intention to provide a set 05 shock absorbing springs in such relatio'n' to the associated parts that the first spring o f the set; when operatively erraged wiil ofli'er a predetermined resistance to compression; the second of which,- whcn operatively engaged; will Ofi l a greater resistanceto compression than the first, and a third of whiclrwhen 'operatively engaged, w-ilfl' adtl'its resistance" to the second =spring; said springs b'eing -also soassocia-ted witlr a second set o t-"springs; that, on*the=-recoi l, onewill ofier'a certain" degree ofresistance to the recoil o f the 'last' above" mentioned shock absorbing" springs; and that; on the recoil, the other ozl said 1astT mentioned set will"inturnpife-r: a less resist ance to the return of't'he'first mentionedl shock absorbing spring to its normal position:

Each rear body supporting spring of a vehicle ordinaril has its anainle'a 'fancliored at its fi'ontend totlie vehicle traineand the" rearend ispi vot'e'd to a hanger which allowsthe spring to compress freely by permitting endwise' movement. An obj ect' 'oiithis inven tion is to provid'e'a shoc'l'r absorber having a' spring actuating member or piston pro vided with spaced rol lers ada-pted to"engargge" the end-either main le'afof the vehicle spring so that th e end-of such leat ma-y move freely in the ClilGCtiOli of'its own loligitudinalax-is,

the shockabs'orber responding only to the movement of thema-in"spring: in a vertical plane.

Each front body supporting spring of a vehicle is ordinarily" anchorecbat its front! end to the vehicle frame and loosely, pivoted at the rear end to the frame-to allow the spring to compress freely. To allow" the Sheri: absorber to be applied to the "front 1, 1922. SieriaPNobSO iglZSa end-ofsuclr a spring it an objectof' this invention to provide a shock absorber 'ofthe' above type witlr a leverarmpivota lly en g-ags ing tlie front end ofthe springand adapted 6 to permit movement of the frontend'otthe spring in a vertical plane against the resist ance of the shoclr'absorber atthat end'while preventing material forward and back-ward movement, thes'lidin-gnr roller beari'ng'connection embodied in the rear shock absorbers 1 being thereby eliminated. i

It isfa further object'ofthe invention to provide a -sh ock-absorber ofthe above type inawhiclr practically all ofth e parts are of" standard material and" which will require very little machine work,Htl1e' parts being readily assembled and the shookc' absorber when so" assembled being? easilyattachedz to anautomobil'e; I

In the drz uvingsx V r r Fig; 1 is a side elevation ot'tlie' shock absorber showingone i'nan-ner of atta'eh'i-ng'it to the frame and spring r of an automobile;

Fig. 2isa sectional-elevation of th'e; device. shown in Fig; 1, the frame-and springbeing removed;

Fig.- 3 is a plan view of the-br'acket shown ini-Figs: 1 and-2. v

Fig. lisa side: elevation of the ShOCk ab-: sorber showing;- at modified formof' attache ing the absorber to-thei rame and 'spring-ot anaut-om-obi-lei' v v Fig; 5 is an end elevationpartly in secti on: ofth'e device sho'Wn -in Fig f4.

Figs Si is a plan :view of the deviceshow-n l in" Fig. 4'; the. frame and springl' being: re moved' Like parts are identified by the same re-f ere'nce characters "throughout the several views? o v The shock absorber 1 ismo urtedupon a bracket Whichhas a circularportionr'). I Thecircular portion 3 has a'cent'ral a pertu-re l and concentric therewith". is an annu lar shoulder 5. A second annular shoulder" 6 is provided concentric witlr'the aperture 4; A tubul'ai member 8 liasthreaded engagement with the shoulder 6. Disposed within andconcenfiric'wi'th theitubeB is-an second" tubularmember '9 seated 1 within the shoulder 5 This tube 9'l'1as an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the aperture 4 oftheb'rac'l'zet. "Extending" through the aperture andintothe tube 9' a tubular-piston 10 which is closed atfboth endsi- The pistonT10-is made ofthree parts comprising the tubular portion 11 threaded at each end to receive at its upper end the threaded cap 12, and at'its lower end a threaded cap 13 which, as shown in Figs. 2

and 3, has downwardly extending integral arms 14. Extending between the arms 14 are shafts 34 and 35 upon which are mount ed spaced rollers 36 and 37, respectively.

The tubes 8 and 9 are capped by a member 15 having a squared end 16. The member 15 threadedly engages the tube 8 and is screwed into position by means of the i .squared end 16. The inner tube 9 is held in I two helical springs 17 and 18. Within the .ment into the shock absorber.

position by the shoulder 5 in the bracket and the shoulder 16 on the cap 15.

Disposed between the tubes 8 and 9 are piston 10 .are disposed two helical springs 19 and 20. Carried upon the piston 10 within the tube 9, is a helical spring 21.

v Extending longitudinally of the tube 9, are diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 2 and 23. Registering with the slots 22 and 23 are slots 24 and 25 extending lonthe bracket 2 and concentric with the aperture 4 is a tubular member 29 which has diametrically opposed slots 30 extending longitudinally thereof. The member 30 is provided to keep-mud and dust from the piston 10 and the slots: 30 are provided to accommodate the end 38 of the spring as it follows the piston on its inward move- Upon the lower side of the bracket 2 is a shoulder 31 f concentric with the aperture 4. Threadably engaging said shoulder 31 is a packing ring 32 adapted to maintaln the packing 32 against the piston 10 with sufiicient pressure to retain grease within the cylinders of the shock absorber. I

The shock absorber shownin Figs. 4 5, is similar in construction to that shown in Figs, 1 and 2, the method of mounting the absorber upon their respective brackets being the same. i It is to'be noted, however, that the brackets are of different construction. The bracket shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 has two lever "arms 40 and 41 provided with apertures 42 adapted to engage the shackle bolt 43 upon the rear end of the frame: A; At the ends of the arms are provided enlarged portions 44 and 45 having apertures therethrough adapted to receive the ends of the U-bolt 46. The bolt passes over the frame A and is secured thereto by and 7 is also secured to the arms 40 and 41 by lock nuts 47.

bolt 43 attached to the frame. The bolt 46 The bracket shown in Figs. 4 and 6 has i a portion 3' which is similar to the portion 3 shown 1n Fig. 6. The two lever arms 40 and 41, however, are of slightly different construction. These I arms are provided with apertures 42 adapted to engage the. shackle bolt 43" upon the front end of the frame A.. Apertures 49. are provided at the end of the arms for the purpose hereinafter described. Ears '50 and 51 are provided near the end of the arms 40 and 41 and have apertures therein adapted to receive the ends of the u-bolt 52, the U-bolt being secured to the ears! by -means of the lock nuts 53. The bolt 52 is secured to the frame A by means of a plate 54 through which the bolt passes, the plate extending transversely across the frame. This plate is held rigidly against the frame A by nuts 55 threadably engaging the bolt 52.

As will readily be seen the proper vertical alignment of the shock absorber may be attained through the brackets 2 and 2 by pivotal movement of the brackets about the shackle bolts 43 and 43 and the retenti-on of the absorbers in such alignment by the proper adjustment of the lock nuts 47 and 53 relative to the U-bolts.

The piston 10 shown in Fig. 5 has a cap 13 provided with a lug 56 having a hole extending transversely of the piston.

bolt 57 extends through said hole and piv-;

otally supports at its ends shackles 58. A lever 59 is pivotally attached at the ends of the arms 40 and 41' by bolt 49' and is also pivotally attached at its other end to the shackles 58 by bolt 60. The lever 59 is provided intermediate its ends with a bolt 61 adapted to, pivotally engage the spring 62.

The shock absorber shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed primarily forh'use upon the rear As is'well known the end of an automobile. v rear springs of an automobile are anchored attheir front ends to the frame and loosely pivoted to the frame at their rear ends to allow for longitudinal movement of the end of the spring when the springs arebei-ng flexed toward or away from a straight line.

Therefore, in the present invention the rear springs are provided with a main leaf '63 extending rearwardly a suflicient distance to ensure that the'jend; 38 of the spring will at alltimes be engaged bythe rollers 36 and 37 upon the shock absorber when the end moves longitudinally of the frame.

The shock absorber shown-in Figs. 4, 5. and

v6 is designed primarily for use upon the front end of an automobile. It is well known that the frontsprings of an auto- -mobile are at their front ends anchored to the end of the frame and are at their rear inc messes.

I relieving: the. piston 10 from. the duty 0.1":

holding the spring; in..psitionure1ative-t tow the: -frame by placingalliofzthe strainnpon: tlie=tbolt49 andithe armseOf a-nd=141*..

It. is preferred that the: shock.- absorber be; packedxwitli suflicient grease to. lubricatesthe operative parts: and to. keep the; spring? 21 from rattling; Suihcient; clearanceiss provided. between the piston: andl tube to:

allow any. greasewithin the tube 9 EmKl'flVlIiClF nnghjt be. under" compressron' between; the:

piston and: cap to passbetweeni the: piston and tube and through theira-respectivcapers tures and into the cavity between'zturbes th midi) and into the cavity of tl1e4pist0n...,

The operation of i the dcvi so is as: follows:

When a: shock. is'transmitted to :thevpistonz. 10 tending? to "force the: piston: into the tubes the spring 19.-iscompressed between" thepiston 10 andthe bill"QG'WVhiClIIlS"SIILlDSiJflHP tially held in:a predetermined: position by the springs 17 and 123i )Vhenthe spring: 19- h as been: compressed sulliciently to allow ft'heapiston to engage. the: rod 261 .2Ll3ZthQ=. lower ends of the slots'2 ii and 25,.th'episton will" by'neas son of its-engagement with th'efrodland its further'movement into: the tube: compress the spring 18. When thepiston 1O has.-'com pressed. the spring 18 'sufficiently the spring 21 will engagethe cap: 151 and 'belcompressed 1 upons further inward. movement-'1 ofthc' pis ton relative to: the tube-9.

It will be understoodthatthe spring lfius: of lighter construction thain spring" 1-8" so:

that when the latter isop'erativlely engaged by the piston a-grcaterresistance is=otfered1 to the movement of'the piston. Insorder' :0 provide at a predetermined: time ai greater:

resistance than is ofieredby spring18*wthird spring 21 isprovided which Whenioperatively engagedadds its'resistance to that of spring 18. v

It isto'be noted. that: as the sprang 19 is' compressed the spring 20. exp'ands andith at' as the spring 18 is-compressedxthe.spring; 1175 expands. Therefore, asithe shocls ahsorbing" springs 18, 19 and 2 1.rc'coil, the. springs lfil and 20 will'ofler a resistancetozt-he eXsp'anL- sion. of the respective shook absorbing-'5 springsagainstvwhich they are OPPOSBdi.

When the wheel'of an automobile drops noted that. springzQQlis offrelaztively lighters intm depressiorrim the: road; the piston. 150 Willrmove: outwardlyaofiithe: tube. Q anclncanse ther=sprin to be; CQIHPIYESSQdl' b'etweenithe piston; and; the: rod; 26; until 1 tiliea-rod'l strikes the upper ends of the slots 24- andfini- If; the; piston; continues to move ou-twairdig, after: the root-'26 has contacted;\vitlntheends ofzthesltsethe spring 1'1 willcbe compressed? between rod? 261andi bracket 2.: i It? is to be 76: construction? than: spring: 1 7 to atlielieby give?- a diliierence in: resistance to the outward: movement: of: the piston;

It'iis'to: he understooditliat'a p istonz-liai 'ingj shackles.- .58? may: be. use d in association; with: the rear shocltzazlosorben by pivotallgyf attache ing'tlre end otth'erspringfifito the shacltlesi The-r shackles" fii'lhttlIGlQ-fOlB; give the ref-- quired freedonrxotiinovenient' if therendzrel ativento; thBUf1'2li1'1GA- and at the same-time permit the pistons to* more: freely-.1

It will ZLlS'OIbBc' notedritlrati when the: body supporting spring ofi'the' automobile. is em gage'd'lasshowniin Fig: 4') or: isengagedat theta-ear P end by: shackleshS, thatithe: tnhe -29" willarequireiaonlyrone: slot: 2-30 toopermit the lever: 59 orzth'el endiofc springer-39m 119110? the piston .asit :moves into: the: absorber.

It: will; therefore; .be seen: tlraitihzhlane pro videdta sh'ockr absorber whiclnhas asset ot-i three sh'oclrsabsorbingi springs. which are adapted? at? predetermined 71 times to be: operatively: engaged;- whereby the first spring will; offer: a: desired: resistances wherebytlresccondtsprihgg:.Whenioperatively engaged by the piston: will: o'iiren 21 giteater; resistance than the first spring .anrli. whereby: the: th=i izd spring: Whom operatiweLy engaged Wl'llkltltl its: resistance to the resistance: ot the second-1 spring. 1

It will: furth'en be seen;..t1l1at. Ia: hTzIVG '1JI1O vided; a. shockc'absoiiber: whichs has a set of springs adapted to offer a resistance to'ithnr expansion: of=-thesrespectivesprings to which they HIE-:OPPIOSGdi:

ItrwillfurthertbeseenzthatiI have pr ovict edi-aishoclsabsorb'er: oiii th'e classdescribed a which: is of cheap. manufacture and which may-"be easilyandiiquiclely installed uponzxanw automobilei It willafiirthen be seem that; I: have :pnovids ed? as shoals J absorber." of the classdescribed i having: means for: engaging:- one end? of: air. automobilessplangg.saidzmeansbeingiadapted.

to: permit: a longitudinal movementi of the endziofithe spring? relative to the framei-ot'z anaautomobiles.

IiOliIIlIII'I 1; In? a: shookiabsorber provided with as tu'bulantmenrber? closed? attone on d; t heco-1n? binatio'iruwith a. seconfdi tllbllliafl membenr dis: 1 posed within'athe finstrmenitionedi member, .ot a hollow 'pis'tonv extendiiigi into? the second I mentioned tubular member; helical! springs:-

disposed bet-ween said: ti'ibnlar members;

helical springs disposed Within said piston, a helical spring disposed wlthm the second tubular member, and'means associated with compressed a desired amount.

said piston adapted to successively engage said springs.

ring, whereby said springs upon the outer periphery of sa1d tubular member may be 3. In a shock absorber having a tubular member closed at one-end, the combination with a hollow piston extending into said member, of a set of springs disposed within said piston, a spring within' said member 'disposedbetween said piston and the closed end of said member, and means adapted to operatively engage said springs successively.

l. In a shock absorber, the combination I with an apertured bracket, of a hollow pis ton axially movable through said aperture and closed at its ends, said piston being pro vided with longitudinalv slots, a set of spiral springs disposed within said piston, and a bar dsposed between said springs and extending through said slot, said bar being supported from said bracket, whereby when said piston moves axially through said aperture, said springs will be alternately com pressed.

In a shock absorber for automobiles, the combination with a bracket having an enlarged end provided with an aperture therethrough, of atubular'member secured to said bracket and substantially concentric with said aperture, a second tubular member substantially concentric with said aper-. v

ture and disposed within said first-mentioned member and havmg diametrically opposed, longitudmal-slots, a set of spiral springs disposed between said tubular members, a'cap secured to said first mentioned tubular member and adapted to hold said second tubular member in position, a tubular piston closed at both ends having diametrically opposed longitudinal slots adapted to register with said first mentioned slots,

said piston extending through said aperture and into said second tubular. member and adapted to engage the spring ofsaid automobile, a set of helical springs disposed .within said piston, a bar disposed within engage said first and second mentioned Springs, and means lncluding an annular said first mentioned tubular member and extending through saidapertures in said sec ond tubular member and piston and positioned between said sets of springs, and a helical spring disposed between said piston and cap.

6. In a shock absorber for vehicles having a frame and a main spring, the combination with a tubular memberprovided with a bracket for support from said frame and having a longitudinal slot, of a hollow piston extending into said tubular member and provided with, means for engaging said main spring, said piston being closed at its ends and provided with a longitudinal slot adapted to register with thelong1tud1nal slot in sald tubular member, a pan oi" springs disposed within said piston, and

means for alternately compressing said springs, sald means extending through said slots and being supported from said bracket.

7. In a shock absorber for vehicles having I a frame, the combination with a tubular member provided with a bracket forvsupport from said frame, of a hollow piston extending into said tubular member and provided with means for engaging said main spring, a pair of opposed springs disposed within said piston and each engageable therewith and means for alternately compressing said springs and disposed therebetween, said means extending to the exterior of said piston and tubular member and being supported from'said bracket.-

8. In a shock absorber for vehicles having a frame, the combination with a tubular -member provided with a bracket for support from said frame, of a hollow piston ex-. tending mto said tubular member and provided-with means for engaging said mam spring, a pair of opposed springs disposed wlthln said piston and each engageable therewith, means for alternately compressing said springs and disposed therebetween, said means extending to the exterior of said piston and tubularmember and being supported from said bracket, a single spring disposed within said tubular member exte riorly of said piston and means on said tubular member normally spaced from said single spring and adapted for engagement therewith when one of said pair of springs .reaches a certain'degr'ee of compression.

9. A-shock absorber for automobiles havlng a frame and a mam spring, thecombination with a tubular member provided with a bracketv for support from said frame, of a hollow piston extending into said tubular member, the pair of opposed springs disposed within said piston and each engageable therewith, a second pair of opposed springs disposed about said tubular member and each engageable with said bracket,

and means within said piston extending to the exterior thereof and of said tubular member for alternately compressing each of the springs of each of said pair of springs, said means being disposed between the springs of each pair of springs and engageable with all of the springs simultaneously.

10. In a shock absorber for automobiles having a frame and a main spring, the combination with a tubular member provided with a bracket for support from said frame, of a hollow piston extending into said tubular member, the pair of opposed springs disposed within said piston and each engageable therewith, a second pair of opposed springs disposed about said tubular member and each engageable with said bracket, means within said piston extending to the exterior thereof and of said tubular member for alternately compressing each of the springs of each of said pair of springs, said means being disposed between the springs of each pair of springs and engageable with all of the springs simultaneously, a single spring disposed within said tubular member exteriorly of said piston and means on said tubular member spaced from said single spring for engagement therewith when one of said pairs of springs is compressed to a certain predetermined degree.

11. In a shock absorber for automobiles having a frame and a main spring, the combination with a tubular member provided with a bracket for support, from said frame and having a longitudinally extending slot, of a hollow piston disposed within said tubular member and having a longitudinally extending slot adapted to register with the first mentioned slot, a pair of opposed springs disposed within said piston and en gageable therewith, and. a second pair of opposed springs disposedexteriorly of said tubular member, means disposed between the springs of each pair of springs and extending through said slots, and means on said tubular member adjustable longitudinally thereof for varying the normal degree of compression of one of the springs of the-second pair of opposed springs.

12. In a shock absorber for automobiles having a frame and a main spring, the combination with a tubular member provided with a bracket for support from said frame, of a piston extending into said tubular member and engageable with said main spring, a pair of opposed springs each engageable with said piston, a second pair of opposed springs each engageable with said bracket, and means disposed between the springs of each pair of springs for the simultaneous engagement with all of said springs.

13. In a shock absorber for automobiles having a frame and a main spring, the combination with a tubular member provided with a bracket for support from said frame, of apiston extending into said tubular member and engageable with said main spring, a pair of opposed springs each engageable with said piston, a second pair of opposed springs each engageable with said bracket, means disposed between the springs of each pair of springs for the simultaneous engagement with all of said springs, and longitudinally spaced means on said piston for alternately engaging the first -1nentioned means w ien one of the springs of the first mentioned pair has been compressed to a predetermined degree.

14:. In a shock absorber for automobiles having a frame and a main spring, the com bination with a tubular member provided with a bracket for support from said frame, of a piston extending into said tubular member and ,engageable with said main spring,

a pair of opposed springs each engageable with said piston, a second pair of opposed springs each engageable with said bracket, means disposed between the springs of each pair of springs for the. simultaneous 'engagement with all of said springs, and longitudinally spaced means on said piston for alternately engaging the first mentioned means when one of the springs of the first. mentioned pair has been compressed to a predetermined degree,fand a single spring engaged with said piston, said tubular member having a shoulder portion adapted to be engaged by said single spring when said piston has moved a predetermined distance.

15. In a shock absorber for automobiles having a frame and a main spring, the combination with a tubular member provided with a bracket for support from said frame, of a piston extending into said tubular member and engageable with said main spring, a pair of opposed springs each engageable with said piston, a second pair of opposed springs each engageable with said bracket, means disposed between the springs of each pair of'springs for the simultaneous engagement with all of said springs, longitudinally spaced means on said piston for alternately engaging the first mentioned means when one of the springs of the first mentioned pair has been compressed to a predetermined degree, and adjustable means carried from said bracket for varying the normal degree of compression thereof.

EDGAR A. MILHAUPT 

